Tighter security for ships arriving from Venezuela

The U.S. Coast Guard has determined that ports in Venezuela are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. Effective January 23, the Coast Guard is imposing conditions of entry on vessels arriving from Venezuela.

Vessels visiting ports in Venezuela during their last five port calls must implement measures per the ship's security plan equivalent to Security level 2 while in a Venezuelan port and must ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded. They must also attempt to execute a Declaration of Security while in the Venezuelan port, log all security actions in the ship's log and report actions taken to the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port prior to arrival into U.S. waters.

Based on the findings of the Coast Guard boarding or examination, vessels may be required to ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded by armed private security guards and that they have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel while in U.S. ports.